Buckets for grain sampling



June 15, 1965 F. A. BOWELL 3,188,868

BUCKETS FOR GRAIN SAMPLING Filed March 1, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 k I 135,, F. A. BOWELL ZEBQCKETS FOR GRAIN SAMPLING Filed mm 21,. .QQBE 2 shmfislmfi 12 Arum/Q 51 United States Patent 3,188,868 BUCKETS FOR GRAIN SAMPLING Fred Arthur Bowell, 1112 9th St. SE, Calgary, Alberta, Canada Filed Mar. 1, 1963, Ser. No. 261,969 4 Claims. (Cl. 73-421) My invention relates to new and useful improvements in grain sampling buckets, particularly grain sampling buckets adapted to be secured to sampling conveyor chains.

Conventional sampling buckets suffer from several disadvantages the principal one of which being that inefficient samples are taken due normally to the extreme open end of the sampling bucket which tends to splash grain and fills on contact with the edge of the grain stream thereby not obtaining representative samples particularly if the flow of grain varies Within the conveyor leg 'or upon grain conveyors.

I have overcome this disadvantage by providing a bucket including a main receiving section and an upwardly and forwardly inclined restricted spout which takes in accurate quantities of the sample as it passes through the grain stream, prevents over filling and provides shrouded vent means for the discharge and entering of air. The speed of travel prevents over filling above the air vent which permits air to discharge from the bucket giving an unobstructed entrance to the grain being sampled.

The principal object and essence of my invention is therefore to provide a grain sampling bucket of the character herewithin described which permits accurate sampling to be taken under a variety of conditions.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which is easily secured to conventional grain sampling belts so that the position and quantity of the grain sampling buckets can readily be varied as desired.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which is suitable for use under a variety of grain sampling conditions such as elevator leg discharge chute, horizontal runs of belt conveyors, or the ends of belt conveyors.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which prevents banking of grain on various surfaces of the bucket due to the provisions of shrouds.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which is simple in construction, economical in manufacture, and otherwise well suited to the purpose for which it is designed.

With the foregoing objects in view, and such other objects and advantages as will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates as this specification proceeds, my invention consists essentially in the arrangement and construction of parts all as hereinafter more particularly described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the lower end of a grain elevator leg discharge chute showing my sampling bucket in situ.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view of my sampling bucket per se.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective front view of my bucket.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective rear view of my bucket.

FIGURE 5 is a side elevation of my bucket in use With an elevator leg discharge chute.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

Proceedings therefore to describe my invention in detail, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings in which I have illustrated, in FIGURES l and 5, my bucket in conjunction with a conventional leg discharge chute 10 of a grain elevator. Although the bucket hereinafter to be described, is adaptable for use under many conditions, nevertheless perhaps the most frequent condition under which it will be used is in a grain elevator leg discharge chute of the type illustrated and described. Under these conditions it is desirable to provide a plurality of grid bars 11 within the leg to screen coarse or large foreign matter which may be present. This screen, of course, should be readily available so that a hinged cover 12 is preferably formed in the upper wall 13 of the grain elevator leg discharge chute.

Furthermore a vertical plate 14 is provided spanning the bottom of the leg to deflect the grain towards the sample buckets collectively designated 15 and also, when modifying existing discharge chutes, a false base 16 is provided for a similar purpose.

Located within the area 17 at the base of the elevator leg discharge chute is a conventional grain sampling chain conveyor 18 extending around sprockets 19 and having a grain sample receiving chute 20 upon one side thereof.

The conveyor 18 normally travels in the direction of arrow 21 so that sampling buckets 15 pass through the grain flowing down the leg discharge chute 10, pass over the upper pulley 19 and are discharged into the sampling chute 20.

FIGURE 1 shows a plurality of such conveyor chains with sampling buckets so that an overall sample can be obtained from the grain flowing down the leg chute. By the same token, one or more buckets may be secured to each chain depending upon the frequency of sample required under the prevailing conditions.

FIGURES 2, 3 and 4 show details of sampling bucket. The bucket comprises a main grain sample receiving and storage portion 22 comprising a rear plate 23, a front plate 24, a pair of side plates 25 and a base plate 26. It Will be observed that the front and rear plates 24 and 23 converge slightly from the upper ends 27 thereof, towards the base plate 26 and this facilitates the discharge of the grain into the discharge conveyor or chute 20.

Formed with and extending therefrom the main portion 22 is the intake and discharge spout portion 28 consisting of an upper plate 29 extending upwardly and outwardly from the rear plate 23, and a front plate 30 extending upwardly and outwardly from the front plate 24 of the main portion. However, it will be seen that the angle of inclination of the plates 29 and 30 is such that they converge towards the intake and discharge aperture 31, the configuration of which is rectangular as clearly shown in FIGURE 3.

This facilitates the quantity of grain taken as it passes through the grain being sampled, splash and spillage being prevented by the restricted entrance and expanding throat of the intake and discharge portion of the bucket.

It will also be appreciated that it is essential to permit air to be discharged as the bucket is being filled and to enter as the bucket is being emptied and in this connection I have provided a vent 32 formed in the front Wall or plate 24 adjacent the upper end 37 thereof with an overlying shroud 33 covering the vent 32. This vent, due to its location acts as intake and discharge means for the air as the grain is taken in by the bucket and permits rapid discharge of the grain as it is dumped from the bucket.

A cover shroud 34 covers the outer surface of the front plate 24, said shroud being V-shaped when viewed in cross section as clearly shown in FIGURE 3. This shroud extends and is secured to adjacent the discharge aperture 31 and extends below the base plate 26 as indicated by reference character 35, it being understood that the lower end of the cover shroud 34 is open to atmosphere. The cover shroud 34 extends below the base plate 26 to ensure air can be discharged and taken in through pvent 32 without any restriction occurring.

Bracket means 36 and 37 are provided on a vertical leg 38 of anangulated bracket '39, the vertical leg being secured to the rear plate 23 of the main portion of the bucket. These brackets 36 and 37 permit attachment'to the sample conveyor belt in the conventional manner and locate and steady the bucket'and also permit same topass over the upper and lower pulleys of the sample conveyors. In this connection, the upper bracket means 36 are adapted to receive the single bracket 36' extendingflfromf one link of the chain conveyor and being held therein by means of bolt 36". a a I 1 The lower bracket means 37' is engaged bybolt 37' extending between a pair of spaced and parallel lugs 37-" also extending from. the chain link, and the/elongated portion 38' of the bracket means 37 permitsmovernent of the chain as the bucket passes over the pulleys 19.

I cover shroud secured to said fr'ont plate and extending from side to side thereof and from the upper edgethereof tion, mea'ns to mount said bucket on said conveyor chain,

and air intake'and discharge means in said main portion, said main portioncomprising a rear plate and a front plate, a base plate and a pair of side plates, said rear and front plates converging slightly from the upper endsthereof towards the lower ends thereof, said air intake'and discharge means being formed on said front plate adjacent the upper end thereof and comprises 'avent through said 'front plate, and an outwardly and downwardly extending shroud formed in said front plate overlying said vent.

2., The device according to claim 1 which includes a to below thelower edge thereof, said cover shroud covering said vent but being spaced therefrom, said cover shroud being closed at the upper end thereof and open at the base thereof.

A further cover shroud 40' is secured to the horizontal 7 leg 41 of the bracket 39 and is also V-shaped in-crosssection as clearly shown in FIGURES 3 and 4.. The cover shroud 34 and 40 prevent banking of grain against" the sample buckets during operation and permit excessgrain to flow freely 'otr" the buckets as they passthrough the grain stream. 1 I

Since various modifications can be made in my invention as hereinabove described,and many apparently widely, different embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the claims Without departing from such spirit and scope, it is intended that all, matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted .as'illustrative 3. The device according to claim 1 which includes. an angulated mounting bracket forsaid bucket, the vertical leg of said'bracket being secured to said rear; plate, the horizontal leg ofsaid bracket extending to and being secured to adjacent the upper 'end of said spout, and'a cover shroud covering the horizontal leg of said bracket.

' 4. Theidevice according to claim 2 which includes an angulated .mouhting bracket for said bucket, the vertical leg of said bracket being securedto-said rear plate, the horizontall'eg; of said bracket extending to and being secured to adjacent the upper end of said spout, and a cover shroud covering the horizontal leg of said bracket.

7 References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 898,672 9/08 Mussell 'h .l9.8 l52 X 1,212,305 1/17 Worsell 294-65 RICHARD QUEISSER, Primary Examiner.

JOSEPH VSTRIZAK, Examiner. 

1. A GRAIN SAMPLING BUCKET ADAPTED TO BE ATTACHED TO AN ENDLESS CHAIN SAMPLE BUCKET CONVEYOR; SAID BUCKET COMPRISING A MAIN GRAIN SAMPLE RECEIVING AND STORING PORTION, AN INTAKE AN DISCHARGE SPOUT FORMED WITH AND INCLINING UPWARDLY AND OUTWARDLY FROM THE UPPER END OF SAID PORTION, MEANS TO MOUNT SAID BUCKET ON SAID CONVEYOR CHAIN, AND AIR INTAKE AND DISCHARGE MEANS IN SAID MAIN PORTION, SAID MAIN PORTION COMPRISING A REAR PLATE AND A FRONT PLATE, A BASE PLATE AND A PAIR OF SIDE PLATES, SAID REAR AND FRONT PLATES CONVERGING SLIGHTLY FROM THE UPPER ENDS THEREOF TOWARDS THE LOWER ENDS THEREOF, SAID AIR INTAKE AND DISCHARGE MEANS BEING FORMED ON SAID FRONT PLATE ADJACENT THE UPPER END THEREOF AND COMPRISING A VENT THROUGH SAID FRONT PLATE, AND AN OUTWARDLY AND DOWNWARDLY EXTENDING SHROUD FORMED IN SAID FRONT PLATE OVERLYING SAID VENT. 